Burr Removing Apparatus and Method

ABSTRACT

Devices and methods for removing burrs from the outer radial surface of generally cylindrical components during rotation. A manual deburring tool is provided having a gripping handle portion and a “working end” head portion. The head portion preferably includes a curved working plate and gripping means for retaining an abrasive sheet thereupon. The outer radial surface of the rotating workpiece is deburred as a user manually grips the handle portion and applies the curved abrasive surface to the workpiece.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to devices and methods used to remove and/or smooth burrs from the outer surface of rotating components during manufacturing.

2. Description of the Related Art

Many pipes, tubes and other generally cylindrical components are made by centrifugal casting, which involves rotation of the component by a rotary mill or other machine. The process of manufacture often results in burrs, projections or other irregularities (hereinafter collectively “burrs”) being formed on the outer radial surface of the component. Some burr removal devices are described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,601,812, issued to Honen and U.S. Pat. No. 4,752,994 issued to Brunken et al.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides new and improved devices and methods for removing burrs from the outer radial surface of generally cylindrical components during rotation. In a preferred embodiment, a manual deburring tool is provided having a gripping handle portion and a “working end” head portion. The head portion preferably includes a curved working plate and gripping means for retaining an abrasive sheet thereupon. The working head presents a distal working surface that is shaped in the manner of an arcuate section of a right circular cylinder. A cushioning pad is preferably secured to the working surface. The abrasive sheet is retained against the cushioning pad and working surface by a gripping mechanism so that a curved abrasive surface can be applied to a rotating workpiece. The outer radial surface of the rotating workpiece is deburred as a user manually grips the handle portion and applies the curved abrasive surface to the workpiece.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of an exemplary deburring tool constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the deburring tool shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the deburring tool depicted in FIG. 1 now activated to remove the abrasive sheet therefrom.

FIG. 4 illustrates use of the deburring tool to remove or smooth burrs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 depict an exemplary deburring tool 10 that is constructed in accordance with the present invention. The deburring tool 10 includes “working end” head portion 12 and a gripping handle portion 14 that extends therefrom. The head portion 12 includes a curved working plate 16 that is preferably formed from an arcuate section of piping. In a currently preferred embodiment, the working plate 16 is formed of a section of steel pipe having an outer diameter of about 7.5 inches. Also in a currently preferred embodiment, the working plate 16 has a thickness of about 3/16″. As is apparent from FIG. 1, the working plate 16 is shaped in the manner of an arcuate section of a right circular cylinder and presents a curved distal working surface 18. A cushioning pad 20 is preferably affixed to working surface 18 of the working plate 16.

The head portion 12 is also preferably provided with a gripping mechanism, generally indicated at 22, for retaining an abrasive sheet 24 which overlays the cushioning pad 20 and working surface 18. The abrasive sheet 24 may comprise sandpaper of a suitable abrasive grain. In a currently preferred embodiment, the gripping mechanism includes a gripping plate 26 that is formed as an arcuate section of a right circular cylinder, similar to that of the working plate 16.

The gripping handle portion 14 includes a primary longitudinal handle 28. The distal end of the handle 28 is affixed to the gripping plate 26 by means of welded flange 30. The handle 28 preferably has a length that is at least 36 inches to permit personnel using the deburring tool 10 to be a safe distance from a deburring operation.

A hanger 32 is preferably affixed to the proximal end of the handle 28 to permit the deburring tool 10 to be hung from a hook (not shown). The gripping handle portion 14 also includes a plunger 34 that is axially moveable with respect to the handle 28. One axial end of the plunger 34 is affixed to the working plate 16. The plunger 34 extends through an opening 36 in the gripping plate 26 and its other axial end is affixed to a flange 38. A compression spring 40 is disposed around both the handle 28 and plunger 34 and extends between the flanges 30 and 38. The gripping plate 26 is resiliently biased against the proximal side 42 of the working plate 16 by the compression spring 40. As a result of the spring bias, the lateral capturing edges 44 of the gripping plate 26 are biased toward the proximal side 42 of the working plate 16 so that the abrasive sheet 24 is captured therebetween, as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2. It is further noted that curved gripping pieces 46 are secured to the gripping plate 26.

It will be seen that the gripping plate 26, spring 40, plunger 34, flanges 30, 38 and gripping pieces 46 collectively form a releasable gripping mechanism for releasably securing the abrasive sheet 24 to the head portion 12. FIG. 3 depicts the gripping mechanism having been opened to release and remove the abrasive sheet 24. Alternatively, the gripping mechanism can be opened to allow the abrasive sheet 24 to be placed in the overlaying fashion shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and than closed to secure the sheet 24 to the working plate 16. As illustrated by the arrows 48, pressure is applied to the flange 38 to move it and the plunger 34 axially downwardly with respect to the handle 28. The downward pressure is preferably applied by gripping the gripping pieces 46 with fingers and pressing downwardly upon the flange 38 with the thumbs. This action causes the gripping plate 26 and the working plate 16 to be moved apart from one another such that the lateral edges 44 of the gripping plate 26 are lifted away from the working plate 16. The abrasive sheet 24 is then released for removal.

FIG. 4 illustrates use of the deburring tool 10 to remove burrs from a rotating workpiece 50. In the illustration, the workpiece 50 is a pipe or tube. However, other such components may be used as well. The workpiece 50 presents an outer radial surface 52 and is being rotated about its longitudinal axis as indicated by the arrow 54. The equipment used for rotating the workpiece 50 is well known, but not depicted in FIG. 4. There are burrs or other irregularities upon the surface 52 of the workpiece 50. A user 56 will manually grip the handle portion 14 of the deburring tool 10 to bring the head portion 12 into contact with the outer surface 52 of the rotating workpiece 50. Contact between the abrasive sheet 24 and the surface 52 will remove burrs and smooth irregularities on the surface 52 as the workpiece 50 rotates. The curved abrasive surface presented by the abrasive sheet 24 conformed to the pad 20 and working surface 18 of working plate 16 conforms generally to the curvature of the surface 52 of the workpiece 50, thereby aiding deburring.

Those of skill in the art will recognize that numerous modifications and changes may be made to the exemplary designs and embodiments described herein and that the invention is limited only by the claims that follow and any equivalents thereof. 

1. A deburring tool comprising: a working head portion presenting a curved working plate that presents a curved distal working surface shaped in the manner of an arcuate section of a right circular cylinder; a handle portion extending from the working head portion; an abrasive sheet overlaying the working surface for smoothing burrs on a rotating workpiece; and a gripping mechanism for releasably securing the abrasive sheet to the working head.
 2. The deburring tool of claim 1 wherein the handle portion is at least 36 inches in length.
 3. The deburring tool of claim 1 wherein the gripping mechanism comprises: a gripping plate having capturing edges; and a spring that biases the gripping plate toward a proximal side of the working plate so that the capturing edges capture the abrasive sheet against the proximal side of the working plate.
 4. The deburring tool of claim 3 wherein the gripping mechanism further comprises a plunger that is operably associated with the working plate for moving the working plate with respect to the gripping plate.
 5. The deburring tool of claim 4 further comprising: a gripping piece affixed to the gripping plate and a flange operably associated with the plunger so that a user may operate the plunger to move the working plate with respect to the gripping plate by gripping the gripping plate by the gripping piece and applying pressure to the flange.
 6. The deburring tool of claim 1 further comprising a cushioning pad disposed between the working plate and the abrasive sheet.
 7. A deburring tool for removing burrs from a rotating workpiece, the tool comprising: a working head portion presenting a curved working plate which presents a curved, distal working surface shaped in the manner of an arcuate section of a right circular cylinder; a handle portion extending from the working head portion; and an abrasive sheet overlaying the working surface for smoothing burrs on a rotating workpiece.
 8. The deburring tool of claim 7 further comprising a gripping mechanism for releasably securing the abrasive sheet to the working head portion.
 9. The deburring tool of claim 8 wherein the gripping mechanism comprises: a gripping plate having capturing edges; and a spring that biases the gripping plate toward a proximal side of the working plate so that the capturing edges capture the abrasive sheet against the proximal side of the working plate.
 10. The deburring tool of claim 9 wherein the gripping mechanism further comprises a plunger that is operably associated with the working plate for moving the working plate with respect to the gripping plate.
 11. The deburring tool of claim 10 further comprising a gripping piece affixed to the gripping plate and a flange operably associated with the plunger so that a user may operate the plunger to move the working plate with respect to the gripping plate by gripping the gripping piece and applying pressure to the flange.
 12. The deburring tool of claim 7 further comprising a cushioning pad disposed between the working plate and the abrasive sheet.
 13. A method of deburring a rotating workpiece comprising the steps of: providing a deburring tool having a handle portion and a working head portion wherein the working head portion provides an abrasive working surface shaped in the manner of an arcuate section of a right circular cylinder; manually gripping the handle portion of the deburring tool and contacting the rotating workpiece with the abrasive working surface.
 14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of releasably securing an abrasive sheet to the working head portion to form the abrasive working surface.
 15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of releasably securing the abrasive sheet to the working head portion comprises: opening a gripping mechanism associated with the working portion; overlaying a portion of the working head with an abrasive sheet; and closing the gripping mechanism to secure the abrasive sheet to the working head. 